We’re always keen to explore how Futurepump solar pumps are being used in different situations around the world.
At one site managed by the National Trust in North Norfolk (UK), Futurepump solar pumps are playing a vital role in the conservation of freshwater marshes.
About the site
Blakeney National Nature Reserve is an internationally important reserve and part of the Norfolk Coast area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It hosts a variety of habitats from sheltered waterways to salt and freshwater marshes and is home to both native and migratory birds and animals.
It’s a truly magical place where the wide expanse of sky meets the grassy marshland and the sea. Dragonflies flit between ponds and ditches, birds wheel in the sky and the grazing cattle and sheep munch on the grass like natural lawnmowers.
However, it’s an area that’s under constant flux in response to weather conditions and climate. The team managing the freshwater marshes have noticed that over recent years, with prolonged droughts in the area, the water levels in the rivers feeding the marsh have been dropping. This causes a great challenge for maintaining the freshwater habitats within the site. Many of the sluices and pipe systems installed to feed the marshland are above the river water levels and no longer work to move water to where it is needed.
This can cause major problems regarding the conservation of rare species. If the ground is too hard early in the year, birds which nest by digging into the marsh are unable to, and as a result, the numbers of nests in the last few years has declined. There is also a delicate balance in the wetting and drying of marshland areas which allows certain plants and invertebrates to grow which provide habitats and food.
With previous methods not keeping up with the changing climate, the team looked for a new solution. One which didn’t require installed pipe systems but worked in harmony with the sustainability and conservation requirements of this important site. That is when they found Futurepump.
The role of the solar pumps
Since March 2023, two Futurepump SF2s with 240W of solar, have been hard at work moving water around the freshwater marsh. They have been used to transfer water from the streams that run through the marsh into managed wildlife ponds and water networks. The idea is to keep the marshland area in a rotation of drying out and wetting whilst across the site different plants are grown, cut, and managed also in rotation to maintain variety.
The pumps have fitted into new opportunities within the marsh where a series of rotary ditches have been dug leading from the managed ponds. The rangers set up a pump to fill the pond and when it reaches a certain level it will ‘overtop’ and run down into the shallow ditches which are designed as a feeding ground for wading birds. If they want to drain the ditches, they simply stop the pump or move it to a different location and let the water levels recede.
The rangers have already spotted that these ponds and ditches have encouraged an increase in new species of dragonfly and damselflies at the site, along with the return of many native wading birds. A huge success!
Benefits of solar pumps in conservation
When working in sensitive areas, whether this is for wildlife or landscape conservation, there are a lot of elements which must be considered.
Pumps need to be as inconspicuous as possible, both in how they look and the noise they make. Futurepump solar pumps are ideal in this situation as their solar panels can be set up low on the ground and the pumps’ green colouring blends into the natural environment. The sound generated by the pumps is also minimal, with a quiet ‘tack tack tack’ noise only audible if close by or if carried by the wind.
The use of renewable energy is also beneficial within conservation as there is no risk of oil or fuel spill contamination compared to using a petrol pump. Reducing this risk where possible is essential to protecting nature and restoring healthy natural environments.
Do you know a conservation project that is crying out for a solar pump?
We have a range a pumps suitable for different pumping requirements:
The Futurepump SE1: For pumping up to 1,600 L/hr in full sunshine.
The Futurepump SF2: Pumps up to 3,600 L/hr in full sun.
The SF2H (high-head SF2): To get the SF2H you can purchase an upgrade kit on our webshop. With the SF2H you can pump up to 1,500 L/hr at a higher head than the SF2.
Each pump has different solar panel options or can be purchased pump only so you can customise the system for your situation. The pumps being used in the project above are SF2s with 240W of solar to optimise for pumping in the cloudy conditions commonly found in the UK.
